Rochester region adds jobs in April

Rochester’s economy continued to show improvement in April, with an increase in non-farm and private-sector jobs, while statewide the unemployment rate fell to its lowest level in more than five years.

From April 2013 to April 2014 the Rochester metro area gained 1,700 non-farm jobs, or 0.3 percent, while the private sector added 2,000 jobs, or 0.5 percent, the state Department of Labor reported Thursday. Non-farm jobs include both private sector and government jobs.

Rochester ranked fifth among upstate metro areas in terms of non-farm job growth percentage last month. The metropolitan area includes Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans and Wayne counties. Genesee County is considered a micropolitan area.

The Buffalo area added 3,700 non-farm jobs, or 0.7 percent, while the private sector added 3,400 jobs, or 0.8 percent, not seasonally adjusted. The Syracuse area lost 900 non-farm jobs last month, or 0.3 percent, while the private sector lost 1,000 jobs, or 0.4 percent.

In the 52-county Upstate New York region, non-farm job growth was 7,800, or 0.3 percent, while the private sector added 11,400 jobs, or 0.5 percent.

From April 2013 to April 2014 the state added 89,500 non-farm jobs, as the private sector gained 93,500 jobs, not seasonally adjusted.

Non-seasonally adjusted data are valuable in year-to-year comparisons for the same month, for example, April 2013 versus April 2014, the Department of Labor has noted. When comparing different months, seasonally adjusted data provide the most valid comparison.

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in New York in April was 6.7 percent, down from 6.9 percent in March and 7.8 percent a year ago. From March to April, the number of unemployed statewide fell by 20,100 to 642,800, its lowest level since November 2008.

The educational and health services sector continued to lead the industries with jobs gains in April, having added 32,200 jobs since April 2013. The manufacturing sector lost some 5,900 jobs last month, leading the sectors with job losses.